MORAL OF THE STORY:

“Hope – that bubbling ingredient in life which is like carbonation in a drink, giving it zest, keeping it in motion, always pushing it up.”

— DePree

“T>hank you for sharing your hope with me, Cindy,” a friend said. “My well was dry, the cupboards were bare and my tank was empty. You could say I’ve been running on fumes, but it’s felt more like I’ve just been existing, and not really living.”

I was visiting a friend who was going through very hard times. I listened to her and cried with her. While we were talking, I opened a bottle of sparkling water, which proceeded to bubble over and spray us both quite extensively. We looked down at our soaked laps, then up at each other and started laughing at the same time.

“That was perfect timing,” my friend said. “I needed to laugh. It’s just water and it’s hot out anyway, but actually the bubbly water makes me think of you.”

I laughed and said, “There are probably a lot of people who associate me with bubbly water.”

She smiled and said, “Yes, you do drink more of it than anybody I know, but what I meant was actually about you sharing your hope with me, because it’s refreshing and after talking with you I feel hope starting to bubble up inside me again.”

I said many others had shared their hope in God with me and that I was grateful to do the same. I told her my trust and faith in God gave me more than just a hope to cope, but to continue living excitedly for what He has planned for me and my life.

I chuckle whenever I open a bottle of sparkling water now. I also try to remember to pray for God to continue letting his living water of hope bubble up and throughout my life.

And you can quote me on that.

CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached at cindy@onthegrow.com or 537 Newport Center Drive, Box 505, Newport Beach, CA 92660.